DIY Simple Platform Bed Frame

In this post, I’m sharing how to build a simple DIY platform bed frame on a budget!

This minimalist design can fit in with any style, so feel free to mix and match it with your existing nightstands or dresser.

It’s easy to build, easy to move, and super budget friendly. Plus, it only requires a few basic tools!

By the way, if you’re looking for a similar design, but with storage, head over to this post to see how to build this same bed with drawers.

I’ll walk you through the step by step build process and I’ve linked the printable plans below, so let’s dive in.

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What to know before building a platform bed frame

While building a bed can seem like a big project because of it’s size, it’s quite simple if you break it down into pieces.

Generally, a bed frame consists of four parts: 2 side rails, 1 head board and one footboard. The exact style and design may vary (as you can see below), but the frame will have four sides.

Then, depending on how the bed is made, you usually have either a box spring or slats to support the mattress. When I build my own beds, I prefer to add slats and skip the box spring.

So, essentially, to build a bed, you just need to assemble four simple parts, then attach them together.

Attaching the Bed Frame

I like to keep bed assembly and disassembly simple so that the bed is easy to pack up and move if and when needed.

So, this project uses bed rail brackets for easy assembly of the side rails to the head and footboard. I recommend watching the video linked on page 1 to see how these are installed.

The part of the bracket with “teeth” goes on the side rail and the part with slots goes on the head/foot boards. These simply slide together to interlock at the corners–no tools needed.

If you didn’t want to use bed brackets, you can absolutely assemble another way if you prefer.

Bed Frame Sizing

Mattresses come in various sizes, so it makes sense that bed frames also come in multiple sizes to accommodate. Twin, full, queen, and king are the most common. Below are standard mattress dimensions for these sizes:

• Twin: 38″ x 75″
• Full: 54″ x 75″
• Queen: 60″ x 80″
• King: 76″ x 80″

NOTE: This bed frame design is built 1″ wider and 1″ longer than the standard mattress dimensions to allow some wiggle room on all sides.

Overall dimensions and material amounts will vary based on the size bed you’re building. However, the assembly process remains the same no matter the size.

If you’d like specifics, I’ve included the dimensions, materials lists, and cut diagrams for all four sizes in the printable plans.

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How to build a platform bed frame

If you prefer to watch, I’ve shared the full build video with tons of tips, behind the scenes, and additional details on my YouTube Channel here. This video explains how to build the bed with OR without storage drawers.

Love watching how-to videos? Subscribe to my YouTube channel for plenty more where that came from!

Prefer to print? Grab the printable platform bed frame building plans available here:

Tools & Materials

*Length and number of boards will vary based on what size bed you’re building (twin, full, queen, king). Refer to plans for exact amount.

NOTE: 1×12, 1×4, and 2×2 are nominal dimensions. Learn more about understanding lumber sizing here.

Step 1: Cut Head and Footboard

First, I cut my head and foot board pieces from 1×12 boards. As mentioned previously, the size will vary depending on what size bed you’re building.

For this design, I cut these pieces 5″ longer than the width of my mattress. Then I laid these out on my shop floor while I moved on to building the sides.

By the way–don’t forget to sand! I sanded the head and footboard pieces well before setting them aside.

Step 2: Assemble Side Rails

Next, I needed to build the side rails. These are the pieces that will stretch between the head and foot boards.

For these, I cut another piece of 1×12 to about 1″ longer than the length of my mattress. Then I ripped it on my table saw to about 9″ wide.

If you don’t have a table saw, you could instead use a circular saw and a straight edge or a cutting guide to rip this board down.

The 9″ wide piece will be the side rail, but the narrow strip that’s leftover will attach to the inside to serve as the bed slat supports.

So I trimmed about 4″ off this strip and placed it on the side rail like shown below so that it was 2″ in from each edge and ¾″ down from the top.

I glued and screwed this piece in position. Then, repeat to make two identical side rails–one for each side of the bed.

Prefer to print? Grab the Printable Platform Bed Building Plans Here!

Step 3: Assemble Bed Frame with Bed Rail Brackets

Now the headboard, footboard, and 2 side rails are cut and assembled, so it’s time to attach them all together.

I built this bed frame so that the head and footboards overhang the side rails 2″ on each side. So to help me get things in the right position, I clamped a scrap piece of plywood cut to 2″ wide along the edge of the headboard.

I also rested the side rail on a piece of ¾″ thick wood so that it was ¾″ up off the ground.

With the boards in this position, I interlocked the bed brackets and attached them into the corner.

TIP: I’ve personally found it easiest to attach the bracket into the corner while the pieces are locked together–no measuring or trying to match them up separately. Once in place, they just slide apart and back together as needed.

TIP: Most of the time, when I’ve ordered these bed rail brackets, they haven’t come with screws. So, I used #8 x ¾″ screws on the pieces in the side rails and #8 x 1″ screws on the pieces in the head/footboards.

I repeated to attach the brackets into each corner on the head and footboards. And with that, the FRAME of the bed is complete and I just need to add the slats.

At this point, I recommend painting, staining or finishing the pieces of the bed as desired. I stained mine in Minwax Semi-Transparent Water Based Stain in Pecan. Then I sealed it with Minwax Polycrylic.

RELATED: How to stain wood

Step 4: Install Bed Slats

Once the pieces were finished, I assembled the bed frame and measured between the side rails. This is how long I need to cut my bed slats to support the mattress.

I cut a combination of 1x4s and ¾″ plywood strips for my bed slats. (I didn’t have enough of either to cut them all the same, but any ~¾″ thick material would work for the slats.)

Because the slats span so far between the side rails, they need a center support. You could run a beam between the head and footboard to support the slats, but I prefer to add center posts instead.

So I cut and screwed 2×2 posts at the center of each slat like shown in the diagram above.

Then, I evenly spaced these slats across my side rails and attached them to the supports on each end with screws.

And with that, this simple platform bed frame is complete and ready for the mattress and bedding of your choosing.

Looking for more DIY bed ideas?

Loved this project, but searching for more DIY bed frame ideas? I get that–it’s good to have options!

Here are a few of my favorite DIY bed frames (with plans!)–just click the image(s) below to take you to the how to for each one:

If you enjoyed this project and would like to save it for later, be sure to pin it or share to your favorite social platform.

Until next time, happy building!